SpaceX Planning for Falcon 9 First-Stage Landing Attempt on Land
During Upcoming Mission; Brevard County, Fla. Residents May Experience
First Sonic Boom Since Space Shuttle

December 19, 2015 04:15 PM Eastern Standard Time

HAWTHORNE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today SpaceX confirmed that the company is targeting launch of the 11
ORBCOMM satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station, Fla. on Sunday, Dec. 20. The 60-second launch window
opens at 8:29 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is
available on Dec. 21.

In addition to the primary mission of launching ORBCOMM’s fleet of
commercial communications satellites, SpaceX is attempting a secondary
test objective of landing the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket on land
for the first time at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1. Previous attempts to
recover the first-stage of the Falcon 9 have been attempted out at sea
using the company’s Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ships. Landing Zone 1 was
previously known as Space Launch Complex 13, a former U.S. Air Force
rocket and missile testing range last used in 1978. If successful, this
test would mark the first time in history an orbital rocket has
successfully achieved a land landing.

Just as when the Space Shuttle returned from space, there is a
possibility that residents of northern and central Brevard County, Fla.
may hear a sonic boom during landing. A sonic boom is the thunder-like
noise a person on the ground hears when an aircraft or other type of
aerospace vehicle flies overhead faster than the speed of sound.

Residents of the communities of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach,
Courtenay, Merritt Island, Mims, Port Canaveral, Port St. John,
Rockledge, Scottsmoor, Sharpes, and Titusville in Brevard County, Fla.
are mostly likely to hear a sonic boom, although what residents
experience will depend on weather conditions and other factors.

Residents may wish to follow the company’s launch webcast for real time
information concerning Sunday’s launch. The webcast will be available at SpaceX.com/webcast
beginning at approximately 8:05 p.m. ET.